Life is good, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

Time just keeps flying by at the Camberg household!! School for the kids will be wrapping up soon and I can hardly believe it. On Thursday I woke at 4am to meet Susan to run and do a strength training class. The evening I dropped Katherine at gymnastics and  was enjoying one of Josh’s baseball games with the other parents, the sun was setting over the mountains team spirit was high (Yankee pedicures, blue hair coloring, team caps) a cool breeze was blowing and I thought Life is good! I am so blessed to have my wonderful husband and beautiful active kids! We have roses right outside our garage door and sometimes I literally stop the car, hop out and smell them.

I finished school May 8 and am proud to say all A’s again! This is definitely not what my report card looked like back in the day. I am so thrilled to have a college “do over” where I get to be the student I always visualized, outstanding athlete and student. I missed running track with my team this spring but did get to catch their regional meet. I also was surprised by and award from my coach for “Top runner of the year for all of the Region” (not just our school). These awards will hang in  a special spot on my wall to always remind me that dreams do come true!

I started physical therapy a couple of weeks ago for my continuing and annoying tennis elbow and my acute hamstring/glute issue that happened in April. Due to insurance I started at a new place, ahh time to tell my story all over again and bring more people into the village of “help Kerry qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials”. Treatment is going well, ASTYM on all areas and dry needling. The hamstring area has been black with bruise measuring over         1 foot for a couple of weeks now as well as my arm. I get alot of “what happened to you”. Followed by “you let them do that to you”. The ASTYM is not too terrible the dry needling in my elbow makes me sick to my stomach literally. 10 needles sticking out causing pain! I feel like we are working on 20+ years of scar tissue leftover from my broken arm in gymnastics.

Mother’s day with my cuties!

The good news is I have been able to start building mileage again. Ran 35 last week and about 40 this week. Mother’s day I had a terrifying experience!! I was running on the canal by my house when 2 dogs came out of nowhere bolting full speed at me. A pit bull and smaller dog, they were jumping all over me in excitement. My ipod was pulled off and chewed on. There was no one around and the dogs had no collars. I assumed they escaped from a yard. After several minutes of them playfully attacking me ( i was shaking). I started to run and they followed me. The dogs stopped to look at some ducks and I took off like crazy only to find them at my heels. Next I tried crossing the canal on a metal slatted bridge, they ran across the canal for a bit. Then they went over the pedestrian bridge and came back at me! Finally a couple of men on bikes came along and we heard someone yelling for dogs. We ran/biked the dogs to the voice. I was really pissed and scared to death from this experience so started talking to the irresponsible owner. He was yelling at me and slightly crazy so I decided to high tail it out of there! Glad to get me 10 miles in and have my ipod still work.

I was really excited to get a new camera for Mother’s Day, just in time for Josh’s Little League Playoff games! I have enjoyed taking photos and cant wait to learn more about the camera. They boys are #1 seed going into playoffs with 15-2 record. Final games are this week.

Playoff game #1 they won.

Yankees checking out the competition for their next game.

Of course have to get some photos of the gymnast too!

Nice split leap.

Splitting the beam. FYI this really hurts!

Josh had to take a break from running because of the increased heel pain, they diagnosed him with Sever’s and he is also going to physical therapy. Between the 2 of us we were at the office M-Th last week. He has had ASTYM twice on his heel, Achilles, and calf. I rub his back and let him squeeze my hand all while thinking am I helping him or am I crazy!!! He is feeling better and doing his exercises 2x day. This also helps me get my pt exercises in too.

I had a last-minute opportunity to run with another Oiselle Ambassador from NY City last week. Jocelyn reached out to me and we had a great run around Tempe Town Lake. I knew she was the girl when we both showed up in diamond roga shorts! They really are the best!!!!!

Diamond Roga Shorts by Oiselle.

I am inspired to look up other Oiselle ladies during my travels this summer, hmm a girl in every port. Sounds fun.

I can already feel summer upon us!! Excited for traveling and finding some races to run. It does get scorching here but there are still some short races that are fun.

What are your summer racing plans????

National Masters News article April 2013

I was contacted by Cathy Utzscheider from National Masters News regarding her desire to write an article about me for the magazine. I happily answered all her questions, that day I was talking and hanging pictures in my husbands office. Here is  the article. You can order National Masters News at http://www.nationalmastersnews.com/

 

Focus and Believe: 2:43

 

By Dr. Cathy Utzschneider

 

Focus. Focus more. And focus still more.

 

Essentially, that concept forms the basis of 43-year-old Kerry Camberg’s success as a marathoner  — one who discovered her strength at the 26.2 mile distance only in the last five years. She’s at the top of her game now, hoping to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials. That’s no small challenge for Kerry, not just because she is 43 but because the “B” qualifying standard is now 3 minutes faster. It’s now 2:43, down from 2:46 in 2012.

 

“My training has gotten sharper and sharper with time,” she said. “Focusing on the marathon is a fairly new process, though.”

 

One might say that for Kerry the road to marathoning has been, to quote the Beatles, a “long and winding” one. Though she ran on her high school track team for a few years, Kerry was mainly a competitive gymnast, hoping she might even become a professional gymnast. Breaking her arm in the sport, however, ultimately ended her hopes for continued competition.

 

After graduating from “Arizona State University, she worked at Wells Fargo Bank in project management, enjoying yoga, hiking, and other recreational sports but not participating in any specific training. Married in her twenties (?), she had two children (Catherine, 12, and Joshua, 10), in her early to mid-thirties.

 

She began running again when she decided to start training for triathlons. “A week before my 35th birthday I started doing triathlons,” she said. Between 35 and 40, she participated in distances from the sprint triathlon to yes, the Ironman. “Just” one?” I asked her. “One and done!” she answered.

 

“I always liked running the most. I was always a terrible swimmer. On the biking I could catch up to all people. Then I would pass them in the running. My friends said if I learned how to swim better I would end up on the podium all the time because my running times were so fast.”

 

The triathlon led to the duathlon. (Why swim when you can be still more competitive just by running and biking?) “In 2009 I decided to do a duathlon. It was in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was very fun!” She was also very good. In this – her first – duathlon, she finished third, qualifying for a spot as a member of the 40 to 44 Team USA at the World Championship Duathlon.

 

Got talent? Yes. As a result of her first duathlon, then, she competed in the 2009 World Duathlon Championships – a 5K run, 40K bike, and a 10K run – in North Carolina, six months later. And how did she do there? “I was finished 11th or 12th out of 60 in our age

group,” she said. “We had horribly rainy weather and I had never ridden a bike in the rain before. My only goal was to stay upright.” It was at that point, she said, that she decided to “hang up the bike and concentrate on marathon training.

 

In 2010, she hired a new coach, John Reich, and training with a group of fast runners, the Bandidos. One of them is Susan Loken, three-time Olympic Trials marathoner.

 

The following year, 2011, was another tipping point in her marathon career. In February of 2011 she ran the Livestrong Austin Marathon. She ran it in 3:08 under hot, humid, and windy conditions. Just five months later, in June of 2011 she ran Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota in 2:47 — a 21-minute improvement in time and a personal best. “That was another sign that I should hang up the bike and focus on qualifying the Trials,” she said.

 

She increased her weekly mileage from about 35 to 75 miles a week. “We also did a lot of longer/faster workouts,” she said. “For example, we did a 20 mile time trial with 16 miles at marathon pace. We ran hills at South Mountain about three times a month.” The volume of weekly speed work increased from about two to 10 miles.

 

A sample weekly workout before her 2:47 marathon follows:

 

1 week training log May 2011 about 1 month before Grandma’s Marathon where I ran 2:47:57

Sunday 22 miles at South Mountain (lots of hill work) average pace per mile 6:59

Monday yoga and strength training no running today

Tuesday track workout 4×1200 in 4:45 w/1:00 min rest total mileage today 10 miles

Wednesday 6 miles easy pace about 7:15 avg. strength training

Thursday 12 miles at South Mountain last three faster pace

Friday 8 miles easy pace

Saturday 8 miles easy pace

total weekly mileage 66

 

In addition to increasing her weekly mileage and speed work, she increased her strength training. On average weeks leading up to the marathon she lifted weights for about an hour twice a week, focusing more on repetitions than heavy weights. “The heaviest weights were about 20 pounds,” she said. “I incorporated plyometrics – split jumps, squat jumps, and tuck jumps – and practiced to Bikram yoga at least once a week.”

 

Another running career highlight was that in 2012 she enrolled in exercise science and sports nutrition courses at Mesa Community College which had invited her to study on scholarship if she also competed on its cross country team. With Kerry at the lead, the team placed first at the regional cross country championships. (Kerry, more than twice the age of many of her competitors, won the race.) Her team qualified for nationals.

 

The support of her husband and children has been critical to her success, Kerry said. “My

husband supports me financially so I don’t have to work,” said Kerry. “He also helps with the kids a lot – driving them to their athletic events if I need to train.” Her husband attended all five races she ran in 2012, and her children came to four of them. “When they’re at the races it makes you a little faster,” she said.

 

Her advice to others?

 

* “Set your goals very high. You don’t know what you can achieve. If I hadn’t set a goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials I would have said that breaking 3 hours was a plenty high goal.” (Kerry’s goal this year, on the way to running a sub 2:43 in the California International Marathon on December 8th, is to run 12 races, one a month, of distances from the 5K on up.)

 

*  Have fun. If you’re not having fun, I don’t know why people are doing it.

 

* Believe in yourself and your possibilities. So much is mental. If you don’t believe in yourself you can’t do it. I believe that the edge of my possibility is a 2:42,” she said.

 

Cathy Utzschneider, Ed.D. (human movement), M.B.A., professor of goal setting and competitive performance, Boston College; coach, Liberty Athletic Club, MOVE; number 5 world ranking, mile, 45-49; silver medal, Nike World Masters Games; 7 time national masters champion, track/cross country; American indoor record, 4 X 1600 relay, 50 – 59. Her first book, MOVE! How Women Can Achieve Athletic Goals At Any Age, can be found on Amazon and at http://www.movegoals.com.

April is a wrap!

Good stories from Boston

I am still in  a bit of shock about the events that happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon. I am thankful my friends were all ok but I know others were not.

I was hoping the media would switch at some point and talk about the normal Boston Marathon Race reporting. We can’t ignore what happened but would love to see emphasis on the happier side of things. Whoever carried out this plan should be punished but not given the attention.

I am so proud of the Bandidos Masters Mens team that won yesterday. I feel honored to train with (or behind) these guys. Pictured is Brett Bernachi, JT (Jeff Turner) and Ricardo Maldondo taken before the blast. Also Jeff Matsumoto was on the team they all ran between 237-238. Smoking fast!

Yesterday made me think back to the only time I have run the Boston Marathon in 2006. I have included copies of some emails I sent out after the race. A quick setup to the story: At my 1st marathon I ran 3:31,waiting for a friend to finish people kept telling me “You qualified for Boston”. I just smiled not having any clue what they were talking about. Later I would learn it is an honor to qualify. I ran that 1st marathon to raise $$ for my friend Susan whom had undergone a double lung transplant. She passed away a short time after the race so I ran Boston in her memory.

I ran with a wristband dedicating each mile to her and her family members as well as my friend Jared Woods.  I did this for many marathons. I would then pray for that person throughout the mile, somehow it made the race easier and gave it a purpose.

Emails sent post Boston 2006

Sent to friends

I wanted to email all of you to let you know how the Boston Marathon went.
It certainly was a journey getting there I had injured my hamstring muscle back
in Feb so I modified my training and did what I could to prepare. My whole
reason to run was to honor the memory of my friend Susan who passed away last July. (I qualified to go to Boston when I did a fundraising marathon for her last June in San Diego Running in the 110th anniversary of the Boston Marathon to honor Susan is something I will never forget. I knew the course was hilly but the course map did not do it justice. The first 6 miles were downhill and by mile 8 my leg was hurting. Well 18.2 miles is a long way to hold your head up high and  keep running. There were
people lining the course the entire way. I tried to gain strength from all the
100′s of children I high fived along the way. Around mile 16 I was having
trouble lifting the injured leg off the ground, no problem only 10 more miles
to go several of it up hill. It was the memory of my friend Susan and all the
challenges she had to overcome that got me through the last miles.I finished
with my arms in the air, a smile on my face in 4 hours 11minutes with Kevin and  Katherine at the finish line.

Sent to Susan’s parents

I wanted to share my adventures of the 110th Boston Marathon. The day before the race at the expo I made a short video clip, you can view it at www.reasonstorun.com search by my bib#11226. (FYI No longer there)

The athletes were bused to Hopinkgton (26.2 miles from Boston) about 9am and the race did not start until 12:30 for me. I was aware of this and had decided to bring along the many cards Susan had written me. I found a cozy spot it in the athletes village to stretch, meditate, motivate and read. It was quite an emotional morning. I had not looked at those cards since last summer. It still amazes me what a strong person Susan was. In June she was still volunteering to babysit, run errands, etc. to help me in return.

I am not sure if I had told you that I pulled my hamstring muscle back in Feb while training. I took several weeks off, received quite a bit of physical therapy and modified my training plans. Boston is a notoriously difficult course, hilly the whole way. I had to train on flat ground due to my injury. My goal was to get to the start line pain free and just do the best I could.

The fans lined the course the whole 26.2 miles, I high fived as many kids as I could and soaked up their energy. It was a beautiful day cool and breezy. By mile 8 my leg was beginning to hurt and I had only gone downhill at this point. I just held my head high and remembered why I was here. Mile 16 was when I was barely able to lift my left leg off the ground, well only 10 more miles to go keep running. I think I told you near the end of the race there is a 3 mile uphill well it is actually 4 long rolling hills. I thought and prayed for you guys quite a bit at that time. I called Kevin at mile 23 for some inspiration and a “go mommy” but got the voicemail. Some battles must be accompolished alone. I walked for a bit at mile 24 hoping that I could then pick up the pace it helped a little and I ran the rest of the way into downtown Boston holding back the tears as I crossed the finish line.

I am forever thankful that Susan touched my life and became my friend. It was bittersweet to run in Boston. I feel very honored that she gave me this opportunity. I feel fortunate that I get to choose my own physical pain instead of having it provided to me. Susan taught me so much. I am so glad that I got to know both of you before Susan passed away.

God Bless,

Kerry Camberg (Boston Marathon Finisher in 4 hours 11 minutes)

PS pain is gone and legs are fine now

Picture from Boston Marathon weekend at Harvard University. Katherine is 5 yrs old!

Kevin and Katherine on duck tour while I am racing. I told him to take her to see the city and meet me at the finish line.

Boston was my slowest marathon to date but most meaningful.

I will continue to pray for all those affected yesterday. I cant wait to hear the story about all the “helpers and heros” of yesterday.

Putting in the miles!

Dads and cousins on the steps at ASU

I knew this week would be a busy one! Family in town, Easter, kids on spring break, gymnastics practices, Little League games and practice, track meet and that is just a few of the highlights. My goal was to get my miles in and my strength/core training. I was doing pretty good until about Wed when Katherine got a bad cold which I also caught.

Josh had another track meet. It was really fun to watch him race! My friend Flash’s daughter Kiara is on a team so got to see her run too. Josh took 20 sec off his 300o meter (don’t we all do that?) running 12:04 and that included a stop before the last lap. He was sprinting trying not to let an older kid pass and I thought “I think he thinks he is done” Yep stopped and then we were screaming “go Josh 1 more lap”. He looked around a bit confused then sprinted out 1 more lap. He had a slight improvement in the 800m running 2:53.

Josh and Kiara

Fast kids, Fast parents

It was a tough and busy week. I tried my best to hold it all together, I was able to make all my runs I think I can formally thank Susan Loken since we finally got to run together. We completed 4 runs, speedwork, mountain hill runs, tempo runs. It was just like old times. She helped me make it through and have some great workouts. What would we do without training partners!!!!!

relaxing and icing on the patio after our 12 miler with pups on Easter.

I was able to make it to Bikram Yoga and was doing great until it came to “fixed fern pose” you kneel and sit heels on your butt. OUCH my achilles was not happy. Finally got it checked out this week. Just a little inflammation in front of the achilles, a little manipulation on my foot and it feels much better already. It has been fine when I am running though. After our 12 mile run I was working multiple ice packs; Achilles and my arm (story for another day).

We had a great Easter brunch with the family: salmon, egg veggie casserole, mixed green salads with golden beets, lentils with red pepper and balsamic vinegar and my new favorite red potatoes with kale basil pesto.

 Red potatoes with homemade kale basil pesto, so yummy and great carbs!

I have successfully been increasing my miles and was at 54 last week. Running consistently for 6 days per week for awhile now. I need to improve my yoga practice and continue to incorporate strength training focusing on my glutes, hamstrings and core. Looking forward to upcoming races.

Loving my new Oiselle High 10 Shimmel top. When this arrived in the mail I knew it would be a running favorite before I even wore it. Great fit and fabric. Comes in multiple colors, I think I have to order another one soon! http://www.oiselle.com/shop/running-tops/high-10-shimmel Not sure if I will go for basic black or turquoise.

The lives we live!

It has been another busy crazy action packed week for the Cambergs (which is why I am a bit late on blogging).

Josh ran in his 1st track meet about 10 days ago down in Tucson. This event now holds the record for longest kids sporting event at our house (7.5 hours not including the drive), Katherine’s gymnastics meet held it previously at 5 hrs.

Josh with his new Brooks Track spikes ready to test them out!

I had an 8 mile run with hills scheduled. Between his events I packed in the miles and did sprints up and down the parking garage at the high school to get my hill work. Not the most exciting workout but I got her done! I did not want to miss any of his first track meet.

Josh racing 1500m love that form. Dude is flying through the air.

He raced 3 events

3000m ran 12:26

800m 2:55

1500m 554 (it was 87 degrees and super windy after being there over 7 hrs).

In between the events he was having fun hanging out with his new teammates. They started doing Parkour moves on some exercise equipment, well it kept them limber!

Josh performing parkour moves between races.

I am really proud of him. It was a long day having gotten up around 5am. He had lots of fun and was proud.

Post Chipolte in my new Oiselle Distance shorts after a very long day!

All day we talked of eating at El Charro and getting an Eeggee’s frozen drink. By the time we left we were so exhausted we stopped at Chipolte and devoured our food.

The next weekend March 23 was looming as the day we had a huge packed schedule. MDA walk, Little League Opening Day, cousins arriving from out-of-town, 1st baseball game of the season.

Here we are at the MDA walk with my friend Lauri and her son Jared. He was diagnosed with Duchenes when he was 6 yrs old. I still remember the day she called me. We have been doing the walk for 9yrs now.

Lauri and Jareds new plates!!

Jared was blazing the trail on the walk so Katherine decided to run ahead. Next thing I know I see 2 teenage boys in their wheelchair going off course with my daughter getting lost. I told Jared if you are going to be the race leader you must know the course. They had a great time.

Then it was off to Little League. Josh was excited to get called up to the majors last week and play on a team with boys and coach he has played with for several years. So he went from a diamondback to a Yankee! Cant believe I only took 1 picture at the game!! He did great in his first majors game. He was thrilled to have his cousins, Uncle Craig and Aunt Julie at his game.

 We had a great big Mexican feast at our house with all the relatives that night. The kids had fun swimming in the pool and having a jacuzzi party. Then raiding the kitchen for more food. I was trying to corral everyone to bed around 9pm (I had an early wakeup and 16 mile run).

My nephew Andrew was asking me lots of questions about my running. His family got to see me race at California International Marathon in 2011. Loved having them there at mile 18!! When I told the kids I had to get up early to run 16 miles Andrew commented ” I know you like to run Aunt Kerry but really 16 miles, that is a long way”.

Andrews reaction to my 16 mile run talk! No actually just his reaction to drinking straight lemon juice from our lemon tree.

All in all a great week. Ran 54 miles last week! The longest since fall of 2011.

Looking forward to Sactown 10 miler April 7.

Mountain to Fountain 15k

Katherine and me postrace.

The Bandidos host an awesome race Mountain to Fountain. It is one of the most competitive races in AZ bringing many elites and prize money!! The race starts at McDowell Mountain Park and finishes at Fountain Hills (with the big fountain in the background). One of the big draws is the opportunity to run with a team and win your weight in beer.

The inaugural year of the race I was on a female masters team and we won, so I was selected to get on the teeter totter for the weighing for our team. Happy to say I weigh 5 cases of Kilt Lifter beer!! I often think about putting that on a medical record for my weight!

This year our team was going head to head with a strong mixed masters team from Flagstaff. It was going to require full effort on our part. I am happy to say we won! Ricardo was kind enough to get on the scale, we won 8 cases of Kilt Lifter to split.

My goal at the race was to finish under an hour. After last weeks hilly race I was not sure if it would be possible. There is something about seeing a certain time on the finishing clock that always inspires me. It seems I waited forever to see a 2 at the beginning of my finish time for a marathon. When I did I rejoiced!!!

We rode the buses to the start since it was point to point. There were even prizes given out on the bus. I got a $10 giftcard for a bagel place since I am a registered organ donor. The first prize of the day.

Beautiful surroundings for our warmup, wish I had photos. It was so fun to lineup with so many friends I know, one of the best things about this race. Shoes were triple knotted and tucked.

We headed out of the park with a slight incline before we would drop down for a few miles. I really pushed it on the downhill since I knew the uphill late in the race would require alot!!

I felt really good and had my eye on several women in front of me to catch or hopefully pass! At one point I caught another master runner Kristine around mile 6. We started to head up hill side by side when we passed a couple younger guys. There was an audible groan as we “chicked” them. I could not help shouting “great job guys by the way we are both over 40″. I heard later that was the kick in the butt one guy needed to get going.

Mile 7-8 was all uphill. I was just trying to hold it together so I could go under an hour. I started closing the gap on another masters lady my friend Kate. Just when I almost got her we had another hill and she was able to surge ahead. I was really happy to be this close to her since she is running really strong right now.

The last mile I really fought for it. As I headed down the straight away to the finish I could see the fountain going. Crap it goes off every hour so I must have missed the hour mark. Not sure how exact the timing is on the fountain I gave it everything I had and finished in 59:48. Woo Hoo I did it!!

Infamous fountain in the background

My family was there to see it happen. Usually I am looking for them as I run it in but this time I just surged ahead. The kids were really proud since I told them my goal but also let them know it was going to be really tough to get it.

3 of my team members had already finished so we anxiously awaited results to see if we would win the mixed masters team. We Won!!! Ricardo got on the scale and scored us 8 cases of beer (to be split between the team). I also won a Gift Certificate to Sole Sports for my placing!! 3 prizes so far.

Ricardo on the teeter totter weighing in for the beer.

Prizes

Josh ran in the kids race, 3 loops equaling roughly 1500 meters. He finished 1st with one boy on his heels. He got a free kids meal at Chipolte.

Josh lining up for the kids race.

Winning prizes: Bagels, Beer, Burritos and Shoes!!

All in all it was a fun day. We enjoyed hanging out at the park after the race.